Former Bengals draft pick trying to jump-start career

Tuesday

HOUSTON -- The multicarat diamond studs adorning Peter Warrick's ears are a reminder of the life he once led.

HOUSTON -- The multicarat diamond studs adorning Peter Warrick's ears are a reminder of the life he once led.

Two seasons removed from his last NFL game, the fourth pick in the 2000 draft is far from fame and riches. Now he's at a place he never thought he'd be: trying out for the fledgling All American Football League.

The two-time All-America selection at Florida State is 30 years old and still looking for a path back to the NFL. Released after five lackluster seasons in Cincinnati, he was cut last year by the Seahawks after one year there.

"I was in Atlanta working out and waiting on the NFL call," he said last week. "I'm tired of sitting at home. I just got an opportunity and I'm trying to make the best of it right now."

The receiver and returner was the most recognizable name among hundreds in Rice Stadium for invitation-only evaluation sessions to find players for the six-team league that plans to start its 10-week season in April.

Warrick seems to be a perfect fit for this league that hopes to build its fan base by stocking teams with star college players who either didn't make it in the NFL or whose careers there were cut short.

"A lot of players that were stars in college still have a lot of name recognition," said 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, who is helping promote the league. "This league will give people who are still hungry for football between April and July a chance to go out and see some of the names that they're familiar with."

Warrick was upbeat and reflective in an interview discussing what went wrong in his NFL career and how difficult it has been to be away from the game he loves.

The man who was such a dynamic player at Florida State he was nicknamed "The Great One" was back on a college field again this week simply hoping to make an impression. AAFL officials said the top players from these sessions would be invited back for further evaluation.

"It's kind of hard, because all my life I'd been at the top," Warrick said. "Now I'm not playing football, but I'm not at the bottom because I had good times and now is one of those times to get back up."

The past two years have taught him patience. He's hungry to play again.

"I'm going to come over here and give it a try and I'm going to make the best of it," he said. "You never know, I might come over here and enjoy this league better than the NFL."

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